The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-01-08
THE BITTER AND THE SWEET.
BY MARY y. PRESCOTT.

1t was in the autumn that the
news of the loss of the ship AlJdtross
reached the small town of Haven.
She had foundered on her way to
Calcutta, and Aleck Fanshawe was
on board as supercargo.
at isn't as though Squire Fan
shaws hadn't other sons" commiser-
ated neighbor, when the blinds
were pulled down and Grape tied on
the knocker at the big stone man
sion, and prayers were offered in
church for the bereaved family and
friends. Everybody il town, so to
speak, turned out to church on that
September morning to see how the
family took it, and to be able to crit
icise the funeral sermon. The Fan
shawes had been a gay, worldly
crowd, and this was their first sor-
row, and those who had seen them
in prosperity and joy wanted to be-
hold the effect of the reverse but
they proved to be family who did
not wear the sleeve they conducted
themselves bravely behind their
weeds, and restrained their tears till
they might flow in private. The
only excitement of the occasion, how
ever, was worthy of the expectations
of their friends. The family filed
into church, black as grief and Grape
make them. There were John and
his mother, Sue and Hildegarde
but who was this other ON the old
Squires arm, bowed with emotion
more sable than the them all, in
widows veil and cap? Who? Why
it was only Louise Turner, whom
they had always known. Why was
she in widows weeds and on tho
Squire's arm? What had happened
to her? There was lively gossip
you may he sure, that day, on thu
way home from church.
81 remember he was kind of at
tentive to Louise Turner one spell,
reflected Mrs. Ames.
That's So So " echoed Mrs. Blake
Don't you remember he took her U
concert over to Danvers? ? He ha:
always known her and like as not
there was something between them.
$50 he has always known every
other girl in town." said Mrs. Blum
the skeptic "and he has been jus
as attentive to half a dozen otlier
as far as | can See"
"Yes," acknowledged Mrs. Ames
reluctantly, che was attentive to al
of them on and off; but then a mm
may be attentive TO dozen, yor
know, while he only care for one
It's odd woman couldn't do it
it would bore her horribly-that is
unless she's flirt.'
"Well, Of course it's true" sighec
Mrs. Blunt, cor else she wouldn't b,
in widows weeds and in the Squire}
pew; but she's the last girl | though
Aleck would care for. | can't recon
cile myself to it,
The interest and surprise of thi.
event seemed to subtract something
from the solemnity of the occasion
1t was not so wonderful that Aleck
Fanshawc should die as that he
should be engaged to Louise Turner
and no one ever have guessed it. Il
perplexed and no one ever have
guessed it. 1t perplexed and dis
turbed Mrs. Blunt, she could hardly
tell why. Perhaps she was disap-
pointed that Aleck should have cared
for such a shallow girl as Louise
and a surprise has an irritating ef-
feet upon some natures. She up
braided herself for having 50 little
sympathy for Louise in such a
sorrow. Louise was pretty; every
body said Louise was pretty, and
young; easily pleased. Doubles; it
had occurred at the last moment be-
fore his departure, and Louise had
waited for his return to declare it,
Alex had been the best match in
town. and, love aside, this was a
great blow for Louise, with whom
everybody was found to sympathizc.
But Mrs. Blunt was dissatisfied with
the quality or quantity of her own
sympathy.
at seems said Il neighbor who
happened in talk it over-'it seems
that Louise heard the rumor, and
rushed up to Squire Fanshaw's to
know the trouth, and when it was
verified she went straight into hys-
terics, and confessed that they had
been privately engaged. of course
the Squire adopted her into the fam
ily at once. They bought her
mourning, the very best, and l dare
say they'll give her Alexis proper
tv-you know he had fortune from
his own mother, the Squire's first
wife"